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After facing a 40 per cent drop in sales of cars, SUVs, pickups and jeeps in 7MFY23 to 94,296 units, auto sector stakeholders believe that the next five to six months appear more challenging than the previous seven months.
The industry continues to face parts shortages due to the State Bank’s (SBP) restrictions on opening new letters of credit (LCs), resulting in plant closures and long delivery times for vehicles. However, industry players maintained their past practice of jacking up prices amid plant shutdowns, uncertain economic conditions and shrinking sales. Some assemblers even gave multiple price shocks in less than a month to offset overhead expenditures.
The eroding rupee value against the dollar has made parts import costlier, whose impact is being passed on to the consumers, but no one cares about giving any price relief to the buyers in view of the rupee’s recovery against the dollar. One dollar was equal to Rs 264.38 on February 16 as compared to Rs 276.58 on February 3 in the interbank market.
However, plants shut down by auto assemblers had resulted in the loss of 250,000-300,000 direct and indirect jobs in the auto vending industry at a time of soaring food inflation and utility bills. Pak Suzuki kept its plant closed for 40 days in the last six to seven months.
Plant shutdowns by assemblers have resulted in the loss of 250,000-300,000 direct and indirect jobs in the vending industry at a time of soaring food inflation and utility bills
CEO Indus Motor Company (IMC), Ali Asghar Jamali said “it is hard to predict future sales scenario as things are not visible regarding the opening of fresh LCs for parts and accessories. We do not know what is going on.”
He said despite a 50pc drop in production and frequent plant shutdowns, “our company has not offloaded any of the employees, not even drivers and low-salary people.” IMC has kept its plant closed for a total of 53 days, from August 2022 to February 2023. IMC’s sales plunged by 51pc in 7MFY23 to 21,877 units. “I think overall auto sales in FY23 will fall by at least 50pc, keeping in view the current situation,” he added.
On the possibility of a price cut as the rupee value gained against the dollar from February 3, he said “we do not know the situation ahead.”
A consumer auto finance banker in a private bank said, “we have witnessed a decline of around 50pc in terms of consumer footfall in the bank for auto financing from July 2022 to February 2023.”
In the plummeting auto financing trend, some buyers are picking up new vehicles on cash due to revised prudential regulations by the State Bank and rising vehicle prices. Due to late deliveries of new vehicles, customers are moving towards used cars and buying them in cash.
Buyers are also turning up for used car auto financing due to suspension in booking and thin availability of new vehicles, he added.
When asked which engine power vehicles are getting more orders for bank leasing, he said an increase in petrol and car prices plus a change of tenor from five to three years in financing have made customers opt for 1,000cc cars or below as they can be financed for five years. In used cars, the Suzuki Alto 660cc is the most sought vehicle among buyers.
He said, “we have not met our financing targets from July 2022 till date.”
Coordinating non-production days
Auto part maker, exporter and Director Mehran Commercial, Mashood Ali Khan, expects a 40pc drop in auto sales in the current fiscal year. “The year 2023 will be a most difficult year for the auto industry. The main reason is the trust deficit between all federal ministries and provinces and the business community.
“All assemblers must collectively coordinate a shutdown schedule that will save the vendor. Every assembler is operating a plant and announcing a shutdown on different days of the month. This is adversely affecting the vendors who are forced to continue opening throughout the month with no work. This is very hard for the survival of the vendors”, he said.
The best option is to have non-production days in all assembling units on specific dates to help vendors close on the same days to save operational costs, Mr Khan said.
Assemblers also need to assist small and medium enterprise vendors with financial instruments. Currently, only Toyota vehicle assembler has given an interest-free loan for nine months to its vendors, he added.
Purchasing used bikes may become daunting
Chairman Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers (APMA), Mohammad Sabir Sheikh, said people earning Rs25,000-35,000 were the main buyers of Chinese bikes on a monthly instalment basis. After the meteoric price hike of bikes as well as food items, they do not have surplus money to pay heavy instalments.
Bike sales fell by 17pc to 724,909 units from 874,161 in 7MFY22.
Mr Sheikh said costly Honda bike sales could be considered robust given its 12-month instalment plan, while Suzuki is also going well. Yamaha sales are going flat.
Mr Sheikh said people, who own cars, prefer three to four years old heavy bikes instead of new bikes as they think that it is better to move in a two-wheeler rather than on cars to save petrol and time. However, even people using bikes have restricted their movement as per their needs due to high petrol rates, which is evident from declining petrol sales, he said.
“I think Chinese assembled bike sales may remain in trouble as the prices have gone beyond the limits for many low and middle-class consumers,” Mr Sheikh said, adding that time is not far when purchasing used bikes will also become a daunting task as its price would further soar due to rising new bike prices. He said the Made in Pakistan Electric Vehicle Policy is required with the support of the federal government through investment in moulds, dies, jigs and fixtures for manufacturing of plastic body scooties, scooters and their parts immediately to save petrol import bill.
A Lahore-based auto assembler said the government is focusing more on revenue generation of Rs 170 billion rather than production closure and the massive drop in sales due to parts shortage and issues of LCs. No one cares about the alarming rise in unemployment. Low to large scale units depend on imported raw materials which take three to four months to arrive.
“From where the government will fetch huge revenue amid dwindling auto sales and plant closure. Raw material inventories are fast running out. How will the government survive without any revenue earning?” he questioned.
Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, February 20th, 2023
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When the Impossible Burger stole the show at the CES Tech fest earlier this year we noted that meat alternatives have officially arrived. The fact that CES has never before showcased a food product and the Impossible Burger’s victories in categories like “Emerging Tech” and “Most Impactful Product” are clear signs that consumers see meat … Continue reading Holistic Management for Beef: A Climate Change Solution
From smart devices to robots to electric cars, technology is changing the way we do just about everything. One area that has seen a comparatively slow adoption of technology is farming and agriculture — but it’s not because of a lack of need. The FAO estimates that by 2050, the world will have over 3 … Continue reading How Technology is Changing Agriculture
In 2017, global pineapple production weighed in at over 27.4 million metric tons. The fruit is prized for its flavor, sweetness, and health benefits—attributes that often capture our attention at Farmfolio. What many of us don’t consider is the massive quantity of pineapple leaves that every plantation produces. It was these leaves, and the strong … Continue reading Piñatex —Producing Textiles from Pineapple Waste?
The first Impossible Burger debuted in 2016 when it was introduced to Chef David Chang’s NYC restaurant, Momofuku Nishi. In an unexpected twist, Impossible Burger 2.0 was introduced at a consumer electronics expo in Las Vegas earlier this year. Wearable gadgets, and the latest gaming and television technology are all standard fare at CES, which … Continue reading Impossible Burger Showcases Plant-Based Food at CES Tech Fest
South Africa is the second largest African economy, after Nigeria, with an estimated GDP of US$325 billion for 2016. Likewise, South Africa is one of the largest agricultural producers in the continent and allows other regions of the world, such as Europe, yearlong access to a variety of agricultural products. Mineral commodities, such as gold, … Continue reading Agriculture and Mining in the South African Economy
During the first Monday of every October since 1986, the United Nations and the international community celebrate World Habitat Day. This yearly occasion is accompanied by discussions surrounding issues such as urban development, access to housing, sustainable agriculture, and climate issues. This article explores the 21st century challenges and opportunities that agriculture faces in light … Continue reading Sustainable Agriculture and Our World Habitat

domain: news


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In March, Microsoft started running TV commercials specifically promoting the use of their Internet Explorer web browser. The ad, which helped its theme song "Too Close" by singer Alex Clare become a major pop hit, has been a staple of TV for the past several months.
Now, Microsoft has a new version of Internet Explorer, which it shipped with Windows 8. IE10 was also released in a preview version today for Windows 7. However, a new video from Microsoft promoting IE10, and posted on YouTube, puts its focus on the Windows 8 version.
The nearly two minute clip starts with Microsoft's opinions on tablets, and apps made for tablets, which it says are "pretty amazing." However, the ad later takes some indirect slams against Apple's Safari web browser on iPad when it says that, in its opinion, browsers running on tablets have not "quite kept up with all this goodness." Ouch.
Of course, Microsoft says in the video that isn't a problem with tablets running IE10 on Windows 8, which it says gives users a fast and fluid experience like they come to expect from tablet applications.
There's no word on if this new promotional clip will be the center of a new TV ad campaign for Internet Explorer, but we suspect we will see edited versions of this video on television screens before too long.
Source: Internet Explorer on YouTube
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The company "recently" made a decision to stop selling Amazon products after existing inventory runs out, a Wal-Mart representative told CNNMoney in an emailed statement on Thursday. The company didn't expressly give a reason for its decision, but said this: "Our customers trust us to provide a broad assortment of products at everyday low prices, and we approach every merchandising decision through this lens."
Amazon (Fortune 500) declined to comment on the news. The decision was first reported by Reuters, which cited an anonymous source and a leaked memo. ,
In May, Target (Fortune 500) became the first , big-box retailer to stop selling the Kindle line from Amazon, which could be perceived as a retail competitor. Target, which began selling Kindles in its brick-and-mortar stores in 2010, also did not provide a reason for its decision.
Amazon unveiled a refreshed line of Kindle e-readers and four Kindle Fire tablets earlier this month. The device is still carried by some bricks-and-mortar retailers, including Best Buy (Fortune 500), , Staples (Fortune 500), Radio Shack and , Office Depot (Fortune 500). ,
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Samsung’s next Galaxy Z Flip is expected to feature a 120Hz display
Samsung’s next Galaxy Z Flip foldable could have a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, bringing it into line with the company’s other flagship smartphones. This leak comes on the heels of news from earlier this week that the ‘Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2’ has been postponed, in part, at least, to distance itself from the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 launch, giving both product lines more exposure.
According to a post on Weibo from renowned Samsung leaker Ice Universe, the wait could well be worth it, with a 120Hz display seemingly in the pipeline. There had been some disappointment when the original Samsung Galaxy Z Flip launched alongside the Samsung Galaxy S20 that the 120Hz display in the main flagship line hadn’t been included on the clamshell-foldable which has a display clocking in at a more standard 60Hz.
Given the mixed reviews it got, despite its brand new form factor, it could well be that Samsung has decided to take its time and get the second version right. Actually, did we say the second version? According to the same leaker, it will actually be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 — with the 5G variant of the original being counted as the 2nd. It’s not dissimilar to Microsoft’s decision to skip Windows 9, to create some distance between people’s associations of a not-so-successful predecessor.
There’s not a lot else we know for sure, but we can probably deduce that the Flip3 will have 5G by default, and that probably means that it won’t be dramatically cheaper than the original, another reason not to let it share a keynote with the Galaxy S21 range. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is likely to be on par price-wise, and it may muddy the waters as to which is the flagship. Whereas the first Galaxy Z Flip was essentially a mass-produced proof of concept, sometimes at the expense of its specifications, the second (oh, alright, third) seems to be heading into the luxury tier, with its own identity and update cycle.
Featured image: the original Galaxy Z Flip


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Tahiti set to release new album through crowdfunding campaign
The battle for the crowdfunding stars is on as Tahiti becomes the third female idol group to produce their upcoming single through the platform.
On February 23rd, it was discovered that Tahiti created a campaign on crowdfunding platform, MakeStar, as they allow their fans to participate in the production of their album. The campaign follows the “all or nothing” concept where rewards can only be redeemed once the funding goal has been achieved.
Aside from the exclusive merchandises and rewards available to those who fund their campaign, Tahiti is also offering the chance to join them for a day trip in Seoul, South Korea.
The goal is set at $8,126 due to end on April 30th. The popular platform followed popular campaigns set by previous groups Stellar and LABOUM.


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BSkyB fought back against intensifying competition today by launching a £10 TV box allowing viewers to watch on-demand services.
The broadcaster unveiled the budget Now TV box, which can also give access to Sky Sports and Sky Movies, as it revealed a 12% jump in the number of products its customers take.
Subscriptions rose 3.3 million to 31.6 million in the year to the end of June, lifting pre-tax profits 6% to £1.26 billion, as customers increasingly add products including broadband, HD TV and Sky Go Extra.
Sky hailed a strong summer of sport, which has seen it broadcast Ashes cricket and Lions rugby, as well as Team Sky cyclist Chris Froome's historic Tour de France win.
Sky is battling surging competition from rivals including BT, which launches its own sport channels next month in a head-on challenge to Sky's dominance of pay-TV sport. BT's channels will be free to its broadband subscribers and give viewers 38 Premier League football games a season.
Sky's Now TV box costs £9.99 and wirelessly connects a TV to a broadband connection, giving contract-free access to BBC iPlayer, Demand 5, Sky News and Now TV. Through Now TV, viewers can also pay to watch Sky Sports and Sky Movies.
The device also allows people to catch up on previously-broadcast programmes - known as on-demand TV.
The Now TV device will also challenge the £299 YouView box, a joint venture between BT, TalkTalk, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Arqiva which also offers on-demand TV for free.
Sky said 35% of its customers are now taking TV, broadband and phone services, up from 32% last year. That helped grow revenues 7% to £7.24 billion.
But its churn rate - how many customers are leaving - increased to 10.9% from 9.9%. Sky warned that it expects the year ahead to be challenging as consumer spending remains squeezed.Reuse content


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RUSSIA has fired a warning shot across the bows of local meat exporters after detecting traces of growth hormone in Australian beef.
Russian authorities have advised the Department of Agriculture that residues of the hormonal growth promotant, trenbolone, were detected in several consignments of beef.
"The Department has reiterated Russia's requirements to meat exporters and moved quickly to strengthen its certification requirements in this regard," a spokesman said.
"The Department will only issue certification for beef exports to the Russian Federation where exporters have implemented arrangements to ensure cattle processed have not been treated with trenbolone."
"Australia recognises Russia's right to determine its import requirements and is committed to meeting these requirements.
Bans on growth hormones, especially the beta agonist class, have been a boon to Australian beef exporters in markets like Russia and China, which have locked out beef from the United States because of hormone use and past cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
Most markets accept beef produced from animals treated with trenbolone, but the Russian Federation is an exception.
Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries imported about 30,000 tonnes of Australian beef in the 11 months to November.
Increasing affluence in the region, and the absence of the United States, is helping to push demand for Australian beef up the value chain, away from the commodity beef towards a higher percentage of steakhouse-style cuts.
"The Russians are saying that these are our requirements, this is what you need to focus on, and please focus on it immediately," said Australian Processor Council president David Larkin.
The issue should not be blown out of proportion, he added. "It's one of those sovereign trading things you go through occasionally."


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Blog: Back-to-school on a budget
Leonie Barrie | 11 August 2008
A slow start to the back-to-school selling season – the second-biggest shopping period of the year after the December holidays – seems to be on the cards for many US retailers after tax-free sales events in a number of states, the last of the government’s tax rebate cheques, and even a spell of warm weather failed to boost July sales for many apparel stores.
A ‘mixed bag’ is perhaps the best description of last month’s sales reports – with the bad news that most consumers are still seeking out bargains or basics as they contend with rising gas and food prices, job uncertainty and the ongoing housing downturn.
Discounters, of course, continue to benefit from shoppers’ focus on necessities like food and fuel, with Wal-Mart posting a 3% gain in same-store sales. But even here there are clouds on the horizon, with the world’s largest retailer forecasting a sales slowdown in August as the stimulus cheques come to an end. Its main rival, Target Corp, saw its same-store sales slip 1.2%.
Mall-based apparel specialists such as Gap and Limited Brands continue to be disappointed as consumers shun non-essential items like clothes and shoes.
The main worry now is where the next boost in spending is going to come from, particularly when back-to-school shopping is completed in September. The likelihood is that consumers will be looking for bigger discounts to persuade them to part with their money. But deep markdowns will put extra pressure on gross margins in the second half of the year – which is something most retailers can ill afford.
Elsewhere the retail shake-out continues, with US department store chain Boscov's the latest to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The retailer is to close ten underperforming stores as it tries to reorganise its business, but has secured $250m debtor-in-possession financing to support it through its restructuring.
But it’s good news for casual clothing chain Steve & Barry's, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection early last month and has now has received an offer of $163m for some of its assets. This will serve as the opening bid in an auction process due to take place this month, and could be subject to higher proposals.
And it’s full-steam ahead for sporting goods giant Adidas which has lifted its full-year guidance after posting an 11.7% jump in second quarter profit to EUR116m (US$179.5m). Sales were up 5% to EUR2.52bn, driven by strong demand for its Adidas and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf brands. The firm, which is an official sportswear partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, also said it is on track to achieve sales of more than EUR1bn in China by 2010 – and that China will become its second-largest revenue earner after the US by the end of this year.
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A Fife chef has returned from Uruguay after representing Scotland in a series of mouth-watering events hosted by the British Embassy.
Barry Bryson, who attended Madras College in St Andrews and trained as a chef at Elmwood College in Cupar, is the owner of private event catering company, Cater Edinburgh.
Barry travelled more than 6000 miles to showcase his culinary creativity in front of an audience of over 100 people, including a number of Uruguay’s celebrity chefs and the judges from the Uruguayan edition of TV’s MasterChef.
The British Embassy selected Barry for his unique cooking style and commitment to excellence using seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
Barry cooked up a storm in the kitchen by serving up a variety of dishes designed to showcase the best of British produce with a twist. These dishes include carpaccio of Aberdeen Angus beef with dried lemon, gin-cured salmon, dill-crusted sea bass with beetroot crumble, and treacle tart with an orange and basil salad.
The series of over 12 foodie events was designed to boost British trade in food and drink exports, in line with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair’s ‘Food is GREAT’ campaign. The campaign aims to showcase the best of British produce to an international audience in a modern and innovative way.
The British Ambassador in Uruguay, Ian Duddy, said: “We’re delighted that Barry has been able to showcase his culinary creativity as part of our latest events series in Uruguay. Our aim is to showcase the best of British produce in a modern and innovative way, as well as increase the positive perceptions of British food and drink. Barry has definitely risen to the challenge to deliver just that.
“We believe that Barry is a great ambassador for Scotland and the rest of the UK. His cooking, passion for produce and commitment to excellence by using seasonal and sustainable ingredients perfectly matches our work with the ‘Food is GREAT’ campaign.”
Barry’s 20-year career includes developing and operating five successful small dining businesses within Scotland’s arts sector, which allowed him to showcase Scottish ingredients and cooking long before it became the norm.
Commenting on his experience cooking for the British Embassy in Uruguay, Barry added: “My time cooking here in Uruguay has been an incredible experience. I’ve been blown away by the quality of the produce here. I could not have been made more welcome by everyone at the British Embassy here in Montevideo. Cooking for the ‘Food Is GREAT’ event has been a brilliant challenge, and I’ve really enjoyed meeting so many chefs and food producers as part of the experience.”
Barry was interviewed about his experience working with the British Embassy in Montevideo on national TV and radio in Uruguay, including Tarde o Temprano and the El Degustador Itinerante show on Radiomundo 1170AM En Perspectiva.


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Bethlehem holding Venture Idol competition for entrepreneurs
Updated On: Oct 16 2013 06:21:30 PM CDT
Ten fledgling companies from throughout Pennsylvania will be competing next month for a cut of $15,000. It's part of 'Ben Franklin Venture Idol,' an annual event put on by Ben Franklin Technology Partners in Bethlehem.
Ten different ideas from ten different start-ups. The entrepreneurs are all small software and technology businesses trying to get off the ground. That's where Ben Franklin Venture Idol comes in.
"We've been describing it as a combination of Shark Tank and American Idol," explained Wayne Barz, Manager of Entrepreneurial Services at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeast PA.
The competition pits the companies against each other in two rounds of judging by real investors.
"Those two panels will select three companies that have a chance to pitch their business in the evening at the Venture Idol event," added Barz.
He says this year the competition is modeled off of crowd funding. They're expecting about 150 people at the event, and everyone will get $100 in virtual money.
"So they're going to have an opportunity after seeing the three companies present, to "invest" their $100 among the three companies as they see fit," shared Barz. "Then Ben Franklin will back up their decision by dividing up $15,000 among those three companies."
For people who actually want to donate money to the fledgling businesses, all ten will be posted on RocketHub, a crowd funding website, so folks can give cash to any of the ventures.
"Any amount of money helps, that's the bottom line," smiled founder of Map Decisions Christian Birch.
His year and a half old company is one of the start-ups in the running. He says it's an honor to be a part of the event.
"What this competition gives us the ability to do is further hone in on what our real message is," explained Birch. "What value we bring to our customer base, and why people should be interested in what we're doing, and interested in investing in what we're doing."
Organizers say the goal of Venture Idol is to help the companies gain exposure to investors, and refine their pitch. This year the competition is being held on November 21st. You can register online if you want to attend.
Copyright 2013 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Man found with 200 marijuana plants in yard, police say
Woman takes stand against crime in her neighborhood
Coroner: 2 males struck, killed by passing train in Upper Milford Twp.
Dozens of stray cats left behind by caretaker's death
Police: Man had many pornographic images of young children
Woman's body found in Lehigh Parkway
Emmaus geese honk at lights designed to scare them off


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The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group, which includes Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf, Nike Golf, PING and TaylorMade Golf Company, has continued its petitioning efforts to encourage Chinese government authorities to enforce its laws against counterfeiting activities within the Peoples Republic of China. In the latest series of enforcement actions, the Chinese Administration for Industry and Commerce (“AIC”) raided four factories in the Xiamen area and seven retail outlets in Guangzhou. Petitioning efforts by the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group (“Working Group”) resulted in the seizure of more than 4,000 counterfeit items during raids on factories which were all operating without a business license.
In addition to manufacturing and assembly facilities, the Working Group has also persistently sought to have Chinese government agencies enforce intellectual property laws against retailers who sell counterfeit golf products. In the raids conducted by the AIC against retailers in Guangzhou, more than 1,800 counterfeit items bearing trademarks from members of the Working Group were seized. The goods ranged from golf clubs, golf bags and balls to clothing, towels and even umbrellas. By petitioning the Chinese government to go after infringing retailers, the Working Group intends to send the message that no part of the supply chain is safe from anti-counterfeiting enforcement action.
Loo Shih Yann, a principal with the international law firm of Baker and McKenzie who is coordinating efforts on behalf of the Working Group in China advised that both the targeting of retail and production facilities as well as the petitioning of local government offices to pursue criminal prosecutions would continue in earnest where appropriate. The estimated aggregate retail value of goods seized in the 5 day operation is estimated at USD 1 million ($1,000,000.00). Loo also pointed out that some of the targeted retail shops were located near five star hotels and are obviously a trap for unsuspecting tourists.


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Are you a gamer who doesn’t like conventional sports much?? If you are you tired of conventional sports stadiums for events like soccer or football matches?? If that’s the case, I have some good news for you, because there is an announcement which will make gamers VERY HAPPY. Especially the ones who live in Arlington, TX.
The City of Arlington is planning to open a stadium for your favorite type of sports: ESPORTS!!!! The City of Arlington has announced the plans for a 100,000 square foot ESports arena which will be at “State Of The Art Level”. Its name will be ESports Stadium Arlington, pretty obvious, huh?? It’s assumed to be the largest ESports Arena in the country.
At the basis of the project, there is actually the idea of transforming the Arlington Convention Center to an ESports arena. The Project’s estimated cost is around $10 million and it will be coordinated with the collaboration of the architecture firm Populous.
It’s actually a great idea for attracting tourists from all over the World and transform the city to an international level. I don’t even mention that the benefits and profits US and the local businesses will make. Mayor of Arlington is also in the deep understanding of the theme. Texas is a beautiful state and now the whole World will be able to understand better that it has much more to offer than guns and cowboys.
Competitive gaming has gained a giant popularity over the years and many big businesses and large companies are investing huge money into it. Mark Cuban – Dallas Maverick’s owner is also a big fan of the concept and other investors from Dallas with a good amount of wealth are sharing the same mindset with him.
ESports is no different than any other conventional sports. It requires discipline, a programmed workout Schedule, customized hardware for max performance and even a nutrition plan!!
A lot of ESports activity has been going on in Dallas area lately and it’s no consequence that Team Envy and OpTic Gaming have set up their store in Dallas. Team Envy is also known to run the Dallas Fuel team.
Arlington ESports Stadium is going to have its own retail and shopping area, broadcast studio, team training areas and probably more to come. It’s exciting to wait for the opening of the stadium. It’s not the first time that Arlington made an impact on the gaming World though. The University of Texas at Arlington has won the Heroes of the Dorm grand prize, an inter-college tournament for Blizzard Entertainment’s Heroes of The Storm.
The stadium is said to be placed at a 10 minutes distance from the University of Texas at Arlington campus.
Did you like this news?? Then please SHARE it to spread the Word!! And don’t forget to LIKE AND FOLLOW our Social Media pages from Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest cool news and releases from GMP, which are easy to reach by clicking the buttons down below!!
Don’t forget to check out our other content by getting started at our “Get Started” page 😉
See you around!!
Tyler, Founder of GMP


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Today, the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) hosted its 10th annual ‘MADE in New Jersey’ Manufacturing Day at iPlay America in Freehold. The event brought hundreds of manufacturers and key stakeholders together to discuss industry trends and best practices. The aim of the conference was to empower manufacturers, change public perception about the industry, highlight its economic impact, and introduce more people to available career opportunities.
“2022 is a pivotal year for every manufacturing business in the United States,” said John Kennedy, CEO of NJMEP. “New Jersey manufacturers in particular faced tremendous challenges and overcame incredible odds as they shifted production to offset the damage caused by COVID-19 while supporting the nation as a whole.”
He added that while there is a light at the end of the tunnel, looming disruptions are set to make recovery only within reach for businesses that take a proactive approach to progress.
“Collaboration and participation will be essential for any business looking to grow in the new year,” said Kennedy. “As supply chain disruptions, cyberthreats, workforce shortages, and financial pressures remain, only the strategic, productive, and efficient will thrive.”
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) released an article in May of 2021 that investigates the projected 2.1 million manufacturing jobs expected to go unfilled by 2030. Manufacturers surveyed reported the right talent is 36% harder to find than it was in 2018.
As a result, businesses must begin getting creative about how they invest in training, recruiting and retention.
When it comes to alleviating workforce challenges, Kennedy said that offering loyal employees training so they can become responsible for higher-skilled tasks, getting involved in the community, and signing up for Registered Apprenticeship Programs, while asking students to take part in high school pre-apprenticeship programs, are all excellent examples of how manufacturers can improve recruitment and retention efforts.
“Manufacturers will continue struggling with employment issues if they don’t take a proactive step toward cultivating a local workforce,” he added.
One area in which NJMEP is focusing to cultivate more is the participation of women in manufacturing.
Women are a largely underrepresented demographic in the industry. According to the National Institute for Standards and Technology, only approximately 30% of the 15.8 million people employed in manufacturing are women, and even less are in leadership positions.
“This [lack of women representation] creates countless issues downstream for the industry such as workforce shortages and a lack of diverse perspectives in decision-making,” said Constantina Meis, community relations manager at NJMEP, who is heading the organization’s new initiative called the “Year of Women in Manufacturing.”
“The ‘Year of Women in Manufacturing’ is an initiative to highlight the women leaders in New Jersey, to provide them and their communities a foundation to be heard, recognized, and a chance to encourage the next generation of girls and women manufacturing professionals. We set out on a mission to give the incredible women manufacturing business leaders a platform to be seen, and this initiative allows us to accomplish this goal,” Meis said.
For the strength of the industry as a whole, there is reason for optimism.
“In 2021, the US economy created 365,000 manufacturing jobs, the largest annual manufacturing gain in employment since 1994,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “Earlier this year, we reached both the highest levels of US manufacturing production, and of US manufacturing employment since 2008, helping to reverse a significant decline in the sector since the Great Recession.”
As we head into 2023, it is vital that manufacturers stay creative and flexible. Companies need to be proactive and able to pivot based on their needs.
“Without evolving, a manufacturing operation will not be able to continue growing,” said Kennedy.
To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.Related Articles:


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HortResearch develops antioxidant-rich red-fleshed apple
that promises to lend to a wide variety of applications in
functional beverages, as well as novel marketing potential for
The New Zealand-based fruit science company developed the fruit over an eight-year period using apples with natural red flesh but without the appearance, quality or storage requirements to meet commercial standards.
The red-fleshed apple could be an enticing ingredient for functional beverage formulators in particular, and the company unveiled a juice concept along these lines at the IFT Expo in Orlando last month.
In a global market that is ripe for so-called super fruits, the red-fleshed apple stands out because unlike other previously less-know fruits - such as exotic naturally-occurring acai or mangosteen - it is has been crossbred specifically for its nutritional benefits.
The idea behind HortResearch's red-fleshed apple was to crossbreed for a high concentration of anthocyanin - the plant flavenoid which gives the fruit its pigmentation and is believed to have antioxidant properties.
HortResearch is also encouraging formulators to study the red-fleshed apple for its potential in promoting cognitive development. In the past, studies have linked anthocyanin to brain health. "These studies are strongly suggestive that these types of fruit can have a positive effect in this health area," HortResearch business leader Karl Crawford told NutraIngredients-USA.com.
Cognitive function is a focus for HortResearch in other breeding programs as well - such as its ongoing work with blackcurrants which aims for optimal anthocyanin and antioxidant levels to substantiate health claims.
HortResearch says through market research it has found consumers are willing to pay significant price premiums for fruit with novel colors and tastes, as well as added health benefits.
"Even though the fruit is some years from commercialization there has already been considerable interest from the market," said Crawford, adding that the company will apply for a plant variety right to protect its new apple breed.
The juice niche the red-fleshed apple is set to target is a growing market. US sales for functional fruit and vegetable juices rose from $2.2bn in 2002 to $2.4bn in 2005, according to Euromonitor International. The growth in market share for these products was even larger, albeit from a lower base, in Europe over the same period - rising from $1.5bn to $2.4bn.
While taking a new fruit from an early stage to full commercialization can take decades of breeding, HortResearch says that by using the latest genomic science techniques it could be supplying growers with new red-fleshed apple trees in five to six years.
"The red-fleshed breeding line has been singled out for immediate fast-track development mainly because the colour is so appealing," said Crawford.


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Security Business Cover Story (Sept. 2021): Our expert integrator panel tackles widespread changing regulations and how to capitalize on them to expand services and increase revenue
This article originally appeared as the cover story in the September 2021 issue of Security Business magazine. When sharing, don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn and @SecBusinessMag on Twitter.
Many economists believe data has replaced oil as the world’s most valuable resource. International online giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon provide low- and no-cost services based on the value of collected customer data. Email, social networks and one-day product delivery hinges on learning customers’ names, gender, ages, locations and phone numbers, along with food, fashion and entertainment preferences. Smaller organizations also collect data to hone online advertising and other promotional activities.
Concerned consumers are fighting back with new privacy laws enabling them to learn what personal data is collected and how it is stored and sold. At first glance, it may appear this trend has little to do with the physical security industry; however, ignorance of these laws puts many security integrators at financial risk through hefty fines.
The European Union’s 2016 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) act is widely credited as the first significant privacy law, covering – among many things – data collected for access control systems and citizens’ video images captured, even inadvertently, by surveillance cameras.
In the United States, 2018’s California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) codified many similar regulations. Recently, New York, Virginia and Colorado enacted consumer data protection and privacy laws. Other states are surely to follow.
The privacy laws differ by state; for example, some exempt employees, while others do not. Some regulations apply to organizations doing business in a state, even if they lack a physical presence. Gross annual revenues may determine which companies are affected.
Privacy laws are not going away. Widespread changing regulations offer opportunities for well-prepared integrators to expand their services and increase revenue. Getting to that point requires employee training, new operational protocols, closer cooperation with clients’ IT teams and consistent plans for working with top manufacturers and subcontractors.
Security Business sat down with its exclusive three-member integrator expert panel – John Nemerofsky, COO of Sage Integration; Michael Ruddo, Chief Strategy Officer for Integrated Security Technologies (IST); and Brad Wilson, CPP, President and COO of RFI Communications and Security Systems – to find out how a multi-state or global security integrator should navigate and capitalize on this minefield of regulations.
Technician and Employee Awareness
All three integrators agree the first step in adhering to privacy laws is making their employees aware of the dangers of breaches to client systems. “Like anything having to do with security, the job starts with awareness,” Wilson says. “Are your employees aware? Does everyone on staff understand the sensitivity of the information they may have access to?”
Apparently not – in fact, Wilson says he has heard of technicians saving unencrypted security floorplans, drawings and network information on later stolen laptops. Also, he says, it is common to see an integrator’s van with 10 or more access control badges hanging from a rearview mirror, providing a fast-moving thief entry to facilities the technician is authorized to access.
Nemerofsky tells a story of a privacy data breach that did not require stolen access cards or a network hack. A company received a call asking for $5 million in ransom. The caller had data including the chief executive’s Social Security number and current bank accounts, company financial records and sensitive customer details. Fortunately, he was not good at covering his tracks and was soon arrested by the FBI.
“This was an inside threat, which is more prevalent than you would think,” Nemerofsky says. “This guy patiently gathered information by looking at other employee workstations that remained active after the users left. The company soon changed protocols to reduce the time information remained on display and who had access to areas with screens showing critical data.”
Awareness of privacy issues runs high within enterprise organizations, the experts say; however, according to Wilson, most integrators make the largest percentage of their sales servicing SMBs with 24 or fewer doors. “That is probably where you have the least awareness of privacy laws and the least established protocols,” he says.
Focus on the Strictest Standards
Sage, RFI and IST all work in multiple states, and some of their larger customers do business in Europe and other countries. With the proliferation of differing privacy laws, the three veteran integrators say they comply with the strictest standards where they operate most often, and usually apply them even in states without robust privacy legislation.
“With two of our offices in California – including our corporate headquarters facility – we are used to complying with that state’s standards,” Wilson says. “These are typically more stringent and generally meet other states’ requirements; however, our out-of-state regional offices can operate with flexibility when warranted.”
Ruddo says IST often works with federal departments and agencies that set regulations later adopted by other verticals such as education and healthcare. When working with commercial projects across the country, IST typically defaults to federal security and privacy standards.
“I have not done a word-by-word comparison between federal and state privacy laws,” he says. “But I would say 99.9% of the time, the federal standards will cover us in any state, locality and many highly regulated commercial markets such as healthcare, banking and utilities.”
Nemerofsky adds that it is essential to fully understand a client’s business, including how and where customers operate. “Many U.S. integrators do not think of GDPR and its privacy regulations because they do not do work in the EU,” he says. “But if their clients do, these U.S. integrators need to be aware of GDPR.”
A good example of standards set for a specific industry is the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which creates national standards to protect patients’ medical records and other personal health information. Ruddo says hospital administrators are very familiar with HIPAA regulations, having dealt with them since 1996.
“We do not have to educate our healthcare clients about HIPAA and its privacy regulations,” Ruddo says. “But that’s not always the case with other existing and potential clients in other industries.”
Working with IT
Ruddo says before beginning a network-based security project, his team asks security directors to bring the IT team members to the table – if they are not already there. “IST grew out of an IT company, so our ability to engage an IT staff and talk intelligently has always been a mainstay of our business,” he says. “If you are not talking with IT, you are making a big mistake – the whole discussion of privacy tends to dovetail back into a cybersecurity conversation.”
Wilson and Nemerofsky agree that engaging a client’s IT department is essential for today’s highly networked systems. “If you cannot have an educated IT discussion at proposal time, you are diminishing your opportunity to win that business,” Wilson
All three integrators agree that liability resulting from breaches from an integrator-hosted system is concerning; however, Nemerofsky says liability in case of a hack – even from a hosted, cloud-based site – rests with the data’s owner, not the integrator who holds the information.
Integrators providing hosted services protect themselves by having clients sign an end-user licensing agreement (EULA), clarifying who owns the data. An exception to the liability rule would be a hack from someone on the integrator’s staff; thus, Ruddo says it is important to conduct background checks of new hires and run regular drug tests as added protection against liability.
Ruddo also urges integrators to carry liability insurance to cover problems with third-party providers required to put a privacy or cybersecurity project in place. “If the prime contract is between you and the end-user, you are going to meet the first brunt of any liability claims,” he says. “Healthcare and other top verticals already want their integrators to carry cyber insurance, and I expect to see it as the norm soon. Ultimately, protecting the systems you are deploying is going to mitigate a lot of risk to a customer’s privacy and other data.”
Integrators should use caution when dealing with subcontractors who often lack knowledge of privacy laws and cybersecurity in general, Nemerofsky says, noting that subcontractors still play an important role. “How does a customer feel about paying $165 an hour for your Cisco-certified technician to run cable when you can hire a subcontractor at a $50 hourly rate? But we will not sub out projects that have anything to do with privacy and data protection – that is work for our trained and certified staff members.”
Ruddo says integrators need to run background checks on subs, including financial records, the number of employees, office locations, and ensure the firm is licensed to do business in states where a project is located. Also, importantly, make it clear in a contract that a sub ca not further subcontract the work without advance notice and approval.
Video Surveillance and Privacy
Video is one of the most sensitive mediums, as bystanders may be captured along with criminals in security or law enforcement surveillance. Liability issues may arise if clips become public. Ruddo says global VMS and other video-related
manufacturers seeking GDPR compliance add software that quickly removes or blurs irrelevant people, license plates and other privacy-protected information from surveillance video.
Recently, facial recognition has come under fire, with cities across the country limiting or outright banning the technology. Nemerofsky says photos of employees’ faces taken to match an access control record are turned into encoded digital templates, offering nothing useable for hackers looking to access a worker’s data.
“From an industry point of view, we need to do a better job of educating the public and elected officials about what facial recognition can and cannot do in the workplace,” Nemerofsky says.
Revenue Opportunity for Integrators
Wilson says his team assumes the role of privacy tutor with some clients, which creates an opportunity to sell service packages helping RFI clients meet changing privacy laws. Those packages might include concierge services that update access control records and change passwords as necessary, as well as regular system auditing and compliance surveys that ensure the client remains in conformity.
“I believe we are heading toward the same type of regulations that require frequent testing of fire alarm and communications systems,” Wilson says. “An integrator can no longer get by just selling cameras, boxes and appliances. We must include service packages for testing and auditing the functionality of privacy protection solutions.”
Wilson added that carrying certifications such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 (information security management standards) shows an integrator takes a strong stance on protecting privacy, giving the organization a competitive edge that could translate into greater revenue.
Nemerofsky says Sage has several ways to generate cyber-related recurring revenue. One way is a device put on customer’s networks that detects breaches and reports on other system details. “The device lets us provide our client with a monthly report card with details such as how many devices they have on the network and the number of authorized employee users,” he explains. “Clients are often surprised to see higher numbers than they expected. The device also notes the last time passwords were updated and warns of software needing updates. If they get a low grade, we work with our clients to make improvements in the next month.”
Looking to the future, the integrators believe hosted and managed services will deliver security and comply with privacy laws with a greater emphasis on subscription services producing recurring revenue.
Nemerofsky urges integrators to evaluate products and services carefully. Each month, his Sage team examines five or six new technologies.
“Sadly, there are still manufacturers without an Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) solution,” he says. “They are still selling Wiegand protocol products that are not secure or conducive to protecting private data. These manufacturers are not good industry citizens. Work with manufacturers that have created cyber programs that offer OSDP and a complete protocol for handling a breach.”
“Ensure your customers understands how their data is stored and what products are used to protect it,” Wilson says. “This is key in smaller markets where end users may consider IoT products that typically have few built-in security or privacy protections, making them more subject to data breaches.”
“Be concerned about privacy in every aspect of an installation and be ready for new laws,” Ruddo says. “As clients get smarter and more regulations come out for the individual verticals, integrators must know how to deal with them.”
“Look at your transaction risks,” Nemerofsky says. “For example, if you are going to take on a project in California, with its strict privacy laws, are you going to have to spend $20,000 to become compliant for a $30,000 project?”
Jon Daum of security-centric PR firm Daum Weigle (www.daumweigle.com) contributed to the writing of this article.


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Startups are moving to blockchain technology in 2018!
The first application of blockchain technology to gain worldwide attention is Bitcoin, the first digital currency. Blockchain creates a decentralized ledger that runs on a network of smart contracts. Blockchain is able to provide high security with the concept of public and private keys for authentication. It follows that blockchain technology can be used in any industry where value is exchanged. This technology has many more applications than just cryptocurrencies.
Below are the lists of startups that will bring change in the future –
This is an Estonian company. Since smart contracts are a giant component of cryptocurrency and blockchain transactions, Agrello hopes to revolutionize them
It aims to combine legal documentation with artificial intelligence to bring smart contracts to the general public without full blockchain expertise. Agrello’s creates an interface that allows users to easily create their own legally binding smart contracts on the Ethereum network. They don’t need to have a lot of programming experience or legal knowledge to do this.
Elastos company started its activity in 2000. It is focused on developing an internet operating system that re-decentralizes the internet using blockchain. It creates a new secure operating system (Dapps) that works peer-to-peer without centralized control. Its goal is to make digital assets rare, identifiable and tradable.
Everex plans to provide services such as currency exchange, microfinance, etc. to people who do not have access to standard financial institutions. They will create a platform using blockchain technology called “cryptocash”. Users can convert their local currency to cryptocurrency through the Everex platform. The value of this cryptocurrency token will be equal to the specified fiat currency.
Founded in 2010, Puregold is the first payment gateway to use a gold-backed cryptocurrency. The name of the gateway is called “PG_PAY”. This includes various payment terminals, Gold ATMs and mobile money transactions with a high level of security. The Puregold team used the Ethereum blockchain technology and successfully created an electronic gold trading network with a gold-backed cryptocurrency
There are many applications of blockchain to make things more organized and secure.
To read more articles visit – http://cryptonewsusa.com
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After the rumours and rumblings Xiaomi have finally revealed details of their latest Redmi model powered by a Chinese made Leadcore processor.
A few months back Xiaomi bought a major share in Chinese processor manufacturer Leadcore. Buying Leadcore was a major boost for Xiaomi as it meant that the company could offer lower cost phones without having to rely on Mediatek (whom they no longer work with).
We’ve been waiting to see what would emerge from the Xiaomi Leadcore deal and today have learned all about the first Xiaomi phone to run the processor. The first Leadcore powered Xiaomi is the newly announced Xiaomi Redmi 2A running a quad-core L1860C processor. The L1860C has 4 X Cortex A7 cores, runs at 1.5Ghz and has a built-inh Mali T628MP2 GPU. The CPU comes with native LTE making it the most affordable LTE Xiaomi phone available.
Now, we have Xiaomi Redmi 2, if you want to learn more about it, please click here.


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Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) has been around for almost 200 years. Investors flock to this business because its dominant position in consumer staples like diapers, paper towels, and razors generates healthy returns through economic booms and busts.
P&G's future is anything but predictable at the moment, though, as it's trying to achieve what CEO David Taylor has called the biggest transformation in the company's history. Here are a few charts that capture that challenge, along with the trends that will drive shareholders' returns through this process.
1. Weakening results
Revenue and earnings are both down substantially over the past five years. Sure, some of that slump can be pinned on foreign currency swings and the fact that P&G does a significant chunk of business in economic flashpoints like Brazil, Russia, and Venezuela. However, growth is disappointing even after accounting for those short-term challenges.
2. Disappointing organic growth
P&G's organic sales have been flat or declined in seven of the last eight quarters while also trailing rivals like Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KB) and Unilever (NYSE:UL), which have been posting 5% gains lately. These competitors have also managed to post strong volume growth while P&G has had to rely completely on price boosts for its organic gains. More than any other single metric, organic growth drives the business, so there can be no sustainable rebound until the company can get this figure back up toward its prior 3% to 4% pace.
3. Improving profitability
Management's key response to the demand slump, slicing its costs, has been a big success. You wouldn't know it by looking at reported earnings, which are understated because of currency swings and divestments moves, but P&G's core profitability is spiking.
Taylor and his team have cut billions of dollars out of categories like cost of goods sold, advertising overhead, and the supply chain. As a result, earnings per share have increased at a double-digit pace in each of the last three fiscal years (after adjusting for currency swings). And once those exchange rate pressures lessen, it's likely P&G's reported profits will turn solidly higher.
4. Cash returns
Cash returns through dividends and stock repurchases represent a big part of P&G shareholders' total return. The company's improving efficiency has allowed cash flow to hover close to a new high even as reported earnings plunge. That's important because it has allowed P&G to fully fund investments in the business around research and development and advertising while still boosting shareholder returns. Management aims to deliver roughly $18 billion to investors in each of the next three fiscal years.
5. Smaller portfolio
Financial engineering will only take P&G so far, though, which is why executives are shifting their entire strategy in hopes of boosting sales and profit growth. It has sliced nearly 100 brands out of its portfolio that are mostly smaller, underperforming franchises, but it also removed a few blockbuster product lines like Coty's beauty products and Duracell batteries from the business.
Brand divestments have helped raise cash to support the faster-growing brands like Tide detergent and Pampers diapers. The divestments have also ensured that P&G has plenty of funds available to spend on stock buybacks.
The big question going forward is whether the new portfolio will actually deliver the higher organic growth and better profitability Taylor and his team project it will. They've warned investors not to expect a quick rebound, but instead to look for slow, sustainable improvements over the next few years.


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Ford’s quarterly profit was a surprise even for the company’s top management.
“I can tell you this outcome was far from certain at the beginning of the quarter,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley. While he said the “situation remains fluid” for the supply of chips going forward, he expects to see improvement going forward.
There are 120,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning, which won’t be available until next spring, and 120,000 unfilled orders for the Broncos which only recently went into production, Ford said. More than 70% of orders for both vehicles are from customers new to Ford.
“After effectively managing through the first half, we are now spring-loaded for growth in the second half and beyond because of those red-hot products, pent-up demand and improving chip supply,” said Farley.
And while it usually takes time for automakers to make profits on electric vehicles early in their production run, CFO John Lawler said that the Mustang Mach-E is already profitable in its first year of availability.
A new way of selling cars
Farley said navigating through the chip shortage has led Ford to make fundamental changes in the way it conducts business. It now expects to sell far more vehicles to customers who order a specific vehicle and have Ford build it for them, rather than shipping the vehicles to dealers to sell to walk-in customers.
The “order bank” for vehicle pre-orders by customers is seven times greater than it was at this time a year earlier, he said, and doesn’t include reservations for the F-150 Lightning or most Bronco orders.
“We have learned that, yes, operating with fewer vehicles on lots is not only possible but it’s better for customers, dealers and Ford,” Farley said. He said more customer orders lower inventories for Ford and its dealers and better reflects actual demand, and less need to use cash-back and financing offers to move vehicles already in inventory.
“I know we’re wasting money on incentives,” Farley said. “I just don’t know where. With an order-based system, we will have much less risk of that.” And the upside for buyers is that “they more quickly get the precise vehicle they want.”
Shares of Ford rose 4% in after-hours trading following the report.


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Tencent Music Entertainment has
launched its initial public offering made a regulatory filing in preparation for its upcoming IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. The music arm of the Chinese conglomerate Tencent is looking to raise between $1.07 billion and $1.23 billion in this move. It is targeting a valuation between $22 billion and $25 billion. Tencent Music boasts more than 800 million monthly active users across its properties: streaming apps QQ Music, Kugou, and Kuwo along with karaoke app WeSing.
In the IPO, Tencent Music Entertainment is selling 82 million American Depositary Receipts priced between $13 and $15 apiece. The company could sell an additional 12.3 million shares if it exercises an over-allotment option.
The IPO had been slated for October, but Tencent chose to delay the move and wait for more favorable market conditions. China and the United States called a hiatus to their trade war this weekend. While that did relax the market attitudes and led to generally increased Asian share prices, a source close to the deal told Reuters that Tencent wanted to list this year to avoid the impact of continued international tensions.
“It’s not worth waiting any longer for a potentially higher valuation if they have to deal with so many uncertainties,” the source said.


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Amazon Prime Video will stream 21 New York Yankees games during the 2021 baseball season, with the first, featuring the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, slated to be held on April 18.
This marks the first season that will feature Yankees games on Amazon’s live-streaming service, which is free to subscribers of its Prime tier who live in the Yankees’ home-team footprint, which includes New York state, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey. The streams will be simulcasts of games produced by the regional-sports outlet YES that air on New York station WPIX and other broadcast partners for the Yankees games.
As part of its Yankees pact, Amazon will air a new 15-minute pre-game show on its service ahead of the first pitch, featuring a lineup of YES on-air talent. The pre-game show will preview the day’s game, highlight marquee match-ups and top players. Meanwhile, Prime subscribers in the Yankees home-team region can stream the games via Android, iOS mobile, and Fire TV, and gain access to live in-game stats, team and player details, and real-time play-by-play information.
Amazon has been part of the Yankees business since August of 2019, when it joined Amazon and Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy an 80% stake of YES from Walt Disney Co. in an arrangement that valued YES at $3.47 billion. Disney had to sell a passel of regional sports-focused cable networks previously owned by 21st Century Fox as part of a deal to acquire Fox’s cable and studio assets. The Yankees own 26% of YES. Sinclair owns 20% and Amazon owns 15%, with rights to acquire more. RedBird Capital, The Blackstone Group and Mubadala Capital are the other stakeholders in the outlet.


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Consumer Confidence Index Declines Nine Points, Consumers Cautious
Press release from the issuing company
February 24, 2004 -- The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved last month, weakened significantly in February. The Index now stands at 87.3 (1985=100), down from 96.4 in January. The Expectations Index fell to 96.8 from 107.8. The Present Situation Index declined to 73.1 from 79.4.
The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by NFO WorldGroup. NFO is one of TNS group of companies (LSE: TNN). The cutoff date for February’s preliminary results was the 17th.
“Consumers began the year on a high note, but their optimism has quickly given way to caution,” says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center. “Consumers remain disheartened with current economic conditions, and at the core of their disenchantment is the labor market. While the current expansion has generated jobs over the past several months, the pace of creation remains too tepid to generate a sustainable turnaround in consumers’ confidence. And, with consumers anticipating economic conditions to remain about the same in the months ahead, their short-term outlook turned less optimistic.”
Consumers' assessment of current conditions was less positive in February than last month. Those claiming business conditions are “good” declined to 19.3 percent from 21.9 percent. Those claiming conditions are “bad” rose to 25.1 percent from 22.9 percent. Consumers claiming jobs are “hard to get” edged up to 32.1 percent from 31.6 percent. Those saying jobs are “plentiful” dipped to 11.8 percent from 12.3 percent.
Consumers’ short-term outlook weakened significantly. Those expecting business conditions to improve in the next six months dropped to 21.8 percent from 27.6 percent. Consumers expecting conditions to worsen over the next six months rose to 8.7 percent from 6.7 percent.
The employment outlook was also less favorable. Those anticipating more jobs to become available in the next six months fell to 18.7 percent from 22.0 percent. Those expecting fewer jobs to become available increased to 18.1 percent from 15.0 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating an increase in their incomes declined to 16.7 percent from 19.2 percent.
WhatTheyThink is the global printing industry's go-to information source with both print and digital offerings, including WhatTheyThink.com, WhatTheyThink Email Newsletters, and the WhatTheyThink magazine. Our mission is to inform, educate, and inspire the industry. We provide cogent news and analysis about trends, technologies, operations, and events in all the markets that comprise today's printing and sign industries including commercial, in-plant, mailing, finishing, sign, display, textile, industrial, finishing, labels, packaging, marketing technology, software and workflow.


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Skyrim Graphics Overhaul 2015 - The Best Performance Optimized Visual ModsMonday, 27 July 2015
So, you've decided to play Skyrim again. Or perhaps this is the first time. Either way, you've installed the game, played a few minutes, and realized something: wow, this is pretty ugly.
Skyrim isn't exactly a game that has visually aged well. It's more than three years old, was already a bit dated when it came out (Bethesda's four-year development cycle shows), and with gorgeous games like The Witcher 3 having been released this year, Skyrim doesn't really have much to offer on the visual front.
It is, however, a gun that runs on Creation Engine, and it has a development kit with an active community. We have the technology. We can rebuild it.
Postmortem: Analyzing The Catastrophic Failure of Steam's Paid Skyrim ModsThursday, 30 April 2015
On April 25, Valve revealed to the public a collaborative effort with Bethesda and a handful of selected modders, aiming to bring monetized mods for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to the Steam Workshop. The concept was received with brutally negative feedback from the community and, less than a week after the release of the system, Valve and Bethesda decided to shut it all down.
When the issue was still hot and the outcome unclear, I made two albums regarding the quality of these mods. You can check them out on imgur here and here. We have rehosted just a few of the dozens of images.
It’s easy to see where Valve is coming from with the original concept: The company solely exists with thanks to mods. The GoldSrc engine was not the first to provide modding capabilities, but it stands as a significant milestone in the existence of this intensive and appreciated gaming niche. It was on GoldSrc that we saw the first cases of free community mods transcending their amateur roots and evolving into full-fledged, professional games. The list is long, but some of the best-known PC games are rooted in this background: Counter-Strike was a Half-Life mod, Team Fortress Classic was a Quake mod remade in the GoldSrc Engine (itself a Quake engine mod) then in Source, Dota was a Warcraft 3 map, Killing Floor was an Unreal Tournament mutator, and the list goes on. With the recent explosion of free-to-play titles with monetized User Generated Content, like Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, and – to some extent – CS:GO, it’s no wonder Valve decided to give Skyrim a shot of the same business model.
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Enterprise blockchain provider Ripple is partnering with Bhutan’s central bank to pilot a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
- The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) will use Ripple’s CBDC Private Ledger to run retail, cross-border and wholesale-payments pilot tests of a digital version of the ngultrum, Bhutan’s national currency, the company said in a press release on Thursday. The pilot will be built atop the country’s current payments infrastructure and will be conducted in phases.
- Bhutan’s stated goal is for its population to reach 85% financial inclusion by 2023. An RMA report published in December last year puts one measure of Bhutan’s financial inclusion at 67.6% in 2019.
- No date was announced for the trials to start. Ripple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
- The private ledger, which is based on the open-source XRP Ledger, claims to be 120,000 times more efficient than standard proof-of-work blockchains making it desirable for a carbon-neutral approach, according to the release. The ledger seeks to provide central banks with “flexibility” and “control” without sacrificing financial stability and monetary policy objectives.
- “Our collaboration with Ripple is testament to the potential of CBDCs to provide an alternative and sustainable digital payment instrument in Bhutan,” said Yangchen Tshogyel, deputy governor of the RMA. “Ripple’s groundbreaking technology will allow for the experimentation of a CBDC with our existing payments infrastructure while ensuring efficient and cost-effective cross-border transfers.”
- Ripple has been making headway in the cross-border sector with a number of collaborations with banks and other financial institutions. This year, SBI Ripple Asia, a joint venture between SBI Holdings and Ripple, introduced Cambodia’s first international remittance service that uses blockchain rails, among other uses.
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Star Wars will be the next pinball machine released by Stern Pinball Inc. The latest in a series of recent games based on mega-hit TV shows and movies (e.g. The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones), Stern's Star Wars will be themed around the original trilogy, not the most recent films. Check out the first video of Star Wars pinball in action below. In addition to some cool toys, like an exploding Death Star, and a hyper space loop that sends balls flying around the perimeter of
Almost five years since first announcing his plans to set up a pinball manufacturing business, Andrew Heighway is to stand down from leadership of the company he established.
Heighway Pinball was an established business operating and trading pinball machines before Andrew took the decision to tackle the lack of choice for operators looking for an attractive, affordable and full-featured game to place on location.
Read the full story:
Posted on Pinside from Heighway Pinball :
Hello to all pinball enthusiasts out there, we are active investors in Heighway Pinball Ltd. There has been a lot of talk, and also silence, over the last few weeks. For this we are sorry but we have not been legally able to reach out to you before now. We are now happy to announce that we have reached an agreement on how to take over the business and move it forwa


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Jennifer Garner is back on TV and very upset with chairs in two new ads for Capital One's Venture Card.
The visuals in the two spots, titled “Seats” and “Musical Chairs,” are bright and whimsical, which contrasts with Garner's concerned vocal delivery. Did one of those chairs kick a puppy or something?
She hasn't gone full Clint Eastwood, but she's still pretty intense about the first-world problem of airline mile blackout dates.
Don't miss the Brandweek Sports Marketing Summit and Upfronts, a live virtual experience Nov. 16-19. Gain insights from leading sports figures on how they navigated a year of upsets and transformation and what's in store for the coming year. Register.


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Published on : Tuesday, June 18, 2019
While Saudi Arabia is leading among the GCC countries with 550,000 tourists, Oman is the second country on the list with 356,000 tourists a 31% increase from the 272,000 tourists last year. Kuwait was third on the list with 133,000 tourists which was a 6% decline in comparison to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, India was leading the top market source list with 726,000 tourists which was a drop of 9% in comparison to 797,000 tourists recorded last year.
Now, Dubai will give a free SIM card with complimentary talk time and data, as part of a new initiative being undertaken in Dubai.
The tourists aged over 18 will be offered the SIM card at the Dubai airport’s immigration counter, according to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. This new Sim Card will valid for one month, the du SIM card will come with three minutes of talk time and 20MB data.
The tourists can also top up the card during their stay, local media reported. The project is being undertaken by GDRFA Dubai in collaboration with du and Smart Dubai. Dubai has set a goal of attracting 23-25 million visitors a year by 2025, it was announced last year. On top of the 2025 goal, the emirate wants to attract 21-23 million tourists by 2022 by increasing its presence in major tourism markets, diversifying its sources of income, increasing the competitiveness of its tourism experience and promoting its attractiveness as a business destination.
The emirate received 4.75 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 2 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to data from Dubai Tourism.


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While the game itself is the main event when it comes to the County Clash, every year there seems to be just about as of a buzz around the half-and-half raffle. In 2018, the raffle set a record with both the winner and the Pisgah Booster Club bringing in $21,365.50 each.
“It is our first or second source of funds every other year, along with the drawdown,” said Pisgah Booster Club President Mark Pinkston. “Every other year when we have a home game, it is a significant source of funds for us.”
“Our money typically goes toward capital improvements,” he added. “Not to say it’s all that. But they’re things that are going to last for years. We tend to use that money to touch a lot of different athletes in different sports.”
After much consideration, the boosters planned a series of events to sell half-and-half raffle tickets, as well as a raffle for two tickets to the game.
Tickets for the raffles can be purchased at one of the following socially distanced events:
- Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pisgah High School parking lot
- Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Pisgah High School parking lot
- Friday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Champion Credit Union building in Canton, as well as the Canton and Waynesville Hometown Hardware locations
- Friday Feb. 26, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Pisgah High School parking lot (raffle tickets for the two seats at the game will not be raffled at this time).ß
The events at the Pisgah parking lot will be drive-thru events to ensure social distancing.
“We want it to move fluid to keep the social distancing,” Pinkston said. “That’s why we thought the parking lot at Pisgah would be best.”
Pisgah Bears Store merchandise will also be sold in limited quantities at the raffle sales events. In addition, an auction for two tickets to the game will be held on the Pisgah vs. Tuscola auction Facebook page Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. through Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.
“That frees up another way for us to raise money and it doesn’t require the public to go anywhere,” Pinkston said of the auction.
Drawing the winning ticket for the 50/50 raffle will be Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher and picking the winner of the two game tickets will be Haywood County Clerk of Court Hunter Plemmons.
“It’s been very cumbersome planning this simply because the logistics are so expansive,” Pinkston said. “We hope that the Pisgah Nation and Haywood County would support us and understand that we have some great needs coming up in the future, and we want to be able to meet those needs.”
The other issue at hand is revenue generated for Pisgah Athletics via ticket sales at the gate.
“That’s taken a big hit as well,” Pisgah Athletic Director Heidi Morgan said. “The gate sales for this game supports every athletic team for about a year to a year and a half.”
The school board has stated it will help make up for losses in revenue typically generated at the gate.


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U.S. home sales slip as supply remains tight
WASHINGTON -- Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes dipped in March as the supply remained tight. But the sales pace remained ahead of last year's.
The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales dipped to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million, from 4.95 million in February. February's figure was revised lower. Sales in March were 10.3 percent higher than a year earlier.
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- After strong January, Conn. building permits plunged in February
- Waterbury chamber's Business Expo set for April 4


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Whenever a big company buys a smaller company there’s typically reason to worry about the smaller company, particularly if it has a history of involvement and support at the local level. The big company doesn’t have the same connection, the same loyalties, the same interests — those are at least some of the concerns.
But it doesn’t always have to be that way, and in the current situation of Thurston Foods Inc., there’s reason to believe an acquisition by a larger company will add up to a benefit.
That’s at least the early indication. Thurston Foods, for a long time a Wallingford family business, was recently bought by GS Foods Group, a California food distributor. As the Record-Journal recently noted, Thurston is celebrating its 74th year, with 200 workers and hopes that more will be hired. As the company’s chief executive, Peter Malone, observed, “they are expanding their footprint nationwide and we’re happy to be their footprint in Connecticut.” The deal will not involve changes in operation or personnel, and the company will keep its name and logo.
Thurston supplies food and paper products to hospitals, schools, restaurants and health care facilities, among others, and is one of the major distributors in the Northeast. It’s easy to see why it would be attractive to GS Foods, which has also made several other acquisitions recently.
Having said all that, it will be worth watching for changes. Thurston started in 1947 as an ice delivery and frozen locker storage company. It has a well-earned reputation for supporting the community. “I hope the new company acquiring them will have the same level of commitment,” said Tim Ryan, Wallingford’s business recruitment specialist.
At the outset there’s no reason to see why any of this would change. Malone told the R-J Thurston had rejected other offers that would have involved organizational changes.
We can look at it as the start of a new chapter, and hope it serves well what has for a long time now been a good story.


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Bookies set for the off on euro
BRITISH bookmakers were bracing themselves for their first major dealings in the euro today as 10,000 Irish racegoers descended on Cheltenham for the three-day meeting.
With a fifth of the festival crowd coming from the Republic, bookies were nervously studying the local council's guide to recognising the new currency. The Irish punt ceased to be legal tender on 10 February.
Bookies, however, are anticipating record-breaking turnover from this week's festival - the first to be staged under the Government's tax-free betting regime. One firm estimates betting could be worth £200m as a result.
Hotels, restaurants and bars are geared up for the euro and staff have been having lessons in the new currency. A spokesman for the Hotel Kandinsky said: 'We never accepted Irish pounds, but with so many of the racegoers betting in euros we would be losing out.'
Last year's meeting was cancelled because of foot-andmouth and this year's festival, the highlight of the National Hunt year, is a sellout. More than 50,000 people will pour on to the Cotswold racecourse today to watch top jockeys including Zara Phillips's boyfriend Richard Johnson compete on some of the world's best horses.
Since Chancellor Gordon Brown scrapped betting duty on 6 October last year, punters have been able to bet without deductions on the High Street - rather than only at one of Britain 59 racetracks or through an offshore firm. A £10 bet now costs just that, instead of £10.90.
Bookmakers report turnover has since increased by up to 40% with the punter's pound stretching further. 'Since off-course betting became tax-free last October, turnover in general is up 30% to 40%. You'd expect Cheltenham to perform along those same lines at least,' said William Hill spokesman David Hood. 'I would guess the bookies oncourse will turn over £1m for each of the 20 races.'
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So, in another a few weeks, the world as it pertains to this contagion will look a lot worse than it does today. I’d imagine the Dow Jones Index will likely shed another 5-8,000+ points during this period. Also, the global supply chain disruptions will kick into high gear as month-long lockdowns in various countries finally impact manufacturers and retailers across the world.
Although, I have been a bit busy on Twitter recently. You can follow my TWEETS and REPLIES on Twitter here: SRSRocco Report Twitter Feed. When I posted this Tweet on March 15th, the price of oil was $31. I stated that the price would likely fall to $29 the next day… and it did. The relevant sentence in the tweet below is… WE DON’T COME BACK FROM THIS ONE.
Today, in early Asian trading, the oil price is trading in the $27 range. If $31 oil was destroying Shale Oil Companies left and right, $27 is undoubtedly wreaking havoc inside and out. Unfortunately, the worst is still yet to come. I now believe we could see oil reach the low $10s. And, to make matters even worse, the wholesale gasoline price is currently trading at 72 cents a gallon… LOL. If you add state and federal taxes, along with a bit of profit by the gas station, the price at the pump would be approximately $1.40-$1.50 a gallon. It will likely take a few weeks for the lower price to finally make it to the pump.
Physical Silver Buying Surges As Fear, Panic and Common Sense Hit Investors
Investors are buying record amounts of physical silver for very different reasons. If you are a “Seasoned” precious metals investor, you may be adding more silver to your holdings because common sense says it’s a good idea. On the other hand, new investors to the precious metals are likely buying due to Fear and Panic. Many of these investors have thought about buying gold and silver for years, and now that the market is disintegrating right before our eyes… they have finally decided to PULL THE TRIGGER.
I see this happening with physical gold and silver buying in the next few weeks-months. As the situation continues to collapse in the Financial and Economic markets, more Americans are going to get PRECIOUS METALS RELIGION. Regrettably, for the new investors, supply will get even tighter as prices rise.
I have heard from precious metals dealers that the past two days have been the busiest in 30-40 years. The result has pushed U.S. Mint Silver Eagle Sales to a new monthly high not seen in years, excluding sales for January (typically higher each year due to restocking of the latest issue). According to the U.S. Mint’s recent update today, sales of Silver Eagles as of March 17th reached 3,112,500:
In the past week, the U.S. Mint sold another 792,500 Silver Eagles. What’s interesting is that several precious metals dealers stated that the U.S. Mint had suspended sales last week. Well, it looks like they continued to sell more these past few days. It will be interesting to see if the U.S. Mint can ramp up production to 4-5 million a month as they were doing back in 2015-2016. But what happens if there are more lockdowns? There are a lot of unknowns moving forward.
So, here’s what’s really fascinating about the retail SILVER BULLION MARKET. The Buy-Sell spread on Silver Eagles in four various large online dealers averages about $9.00 a coin!!! This means, if you want to sell your Silver Eagles to one of these Dealers, you are going to get $9 less than what they are selling them currently.
The BUY price is shown in the SILVER COINS, while the RED COINS displays the SELL price. So, if you wanted to purchase a Silver Eagle from this first dealer in the chart, you would pay $22.98. But, if you wanted to sell, they would buy it from you for $8.85 less at $14.13. The last dealer with the $19.70 price (*) did not have any in stock and likely didn’t update its prices to the $22-$23 range. These prices are based on buying the largest number of Silver Eagles. If you wanted to only buy 1-19 Silver Eagles from the first dealer in the chart, you would pay $24.88
So, here’s the important question? While the paper silver price is low, why haven’t precious metals dealers raised their SELL TO price to get more inventory?? Good question. Why on earth would anyone sell their Silver Eagles for $14 when the dealers are selling at $23?? However, we can’t blame the dealers because they get their bullion and price quotes based on the few large wholesalers-suppliers.
Crazy, isn’t it?? The market is totally distorted. Also, you also can’t blame the wholesalers for this huge BUY-SELL spread because their silver bullion stock was built upon prices of silver in the $17-$18 range. Why would they sell Silver Eagles at $14??
As I stated at the beginning of the article, I will be doing more extensive VIDEO UPDATES on the Precious metals and the global contagion. For example, if the oil price has fallen 50% in just the past month, then the COST OF PRODUCTION for the primary silver miners has also dropped considerably. According to my analysis, the primary silver miners’ average cost of production was about $14.50-$15 in Q4 2019. Thus, if we are basing silver as a “Commodity” ONLY, then it isn’t surprising that the price fell lower due to the decline in Industrial demand and energy prices.
Even though copper is down 19%, I see it dropping like a rock to $$1.50 or lower. Currently, copper is trading at $2.33 a pound. Why isn’t copper lower…LOL?? Gosh, with the world shutting down its global engine, who the hell needs much copper?? Moreover, with many dealers selling Copper Rounds at 99 cents and higher, FOR a 1 OUNCE COIN, who in their right mind would purchase them when you can buy a pound of copper for $2.50???
WE WILL NOT COME BACK FROM THIS ONE. Rather, we will enter into a new world that will be very chaotic and tumultuous. While the precious metals won’t solve all our problems, at least they will protect wealth during this time when many financial assets get wiped out.


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Audi's sales rise 4.3% y/y in November, Mercedes-Benz passenger car brand set to take top premium spot for 2016
The Big Three German volume premium brands have enjoyed another strong year, but for the first time in a decade Mercedes-Benz will lead the pack.
IHS Markit Perspective
- Significance: Audi has posted a 4.3% y/y increase in sales during November to 154,050 units, with the firm's YTD sales rising by 4.2% y/y to 1,713,900 units, according to a company statement.
- Implications: This premium brand sales results for November confirm that Mercedes-Benz will be the best-selling volume premium brand in the world for the first time since 2005 as it currently leads BMW by 70,000 units with just one sales month to go.
- Outlook: The fact that Mercedes-Benz has overtaken its two great rivals after a moribund period of undesirable designs and poor quality in the last decade is testament to the strategic vision of Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche and the standard of new models the firm has launched in the past five years.
Audi has announced that its sales increased by 4.3% year on year (y/y) in November to 154,050 units, almost exactly in line with the uplift the brand experienced in the first 11 months of the year, with sales rising by 4.2% y/y in the January to November period to 1,713,900 units, according to a company statement. The Ingolstadt-based manufacturer posted strong growth in its home region, as was the case with its other premium volume rivals, with a 9.5% y/y increase in sales volume to 68,200 units. There were particularly strong results in the United Kingdom, where sales rose by 18.0% y/y to 12,970 units, Italy, up 18.8% y/y to 5,570 units, and Spain, with a 24.7% y/y increase to 4,176 units. Demand in Europe was driven especially by the launch of two key new models; the second-generation A5 and the Q2.
In China, where Audi has maintained its position as the market-leading premium brand since it entered the market, sales increased by 6.6% y/y to 52,776 units, driven by the Q3 which was up by 46.8% y/y, while the sales development of the A3, which in China predominantly means the sedan body style, sales rose by 31.0% y/y to 8,529 units. Meanwhile, In the YTD Audi's sales rose by 5.7% y/y in China. In the US market, which has proved difficult for the premium OEMs in 2016, Audi managed to maintain positive growth, with a 2.5% y/y uplift in November to 17,118 units, while YTD sales rose by 2.9% y/y to 187,018 units.
Outlook and implications
The confirmation of Audi's sales numbers for November and the first 11 months of the year has all but assured that the Mercedes-Benz passenger car brand will be the world's best-selling volume premium passenger car brand for 2016. This is the first time in a decade that it will have taken the title, having been overtaken by BMW in 2005, and subsequently pushed down to third by Audi. Mercedes' recovery in the volume premium market has been enabled by strong strategic leadership from the management team of Daimler CEO, who has spearheaded a product lead revival typified by sharp design, increased connectivity and user friendly operating systems, efficient and powerful powertrains and perhaps most importantly a much-expanded product portfolio in terms of sub-D segment models and SUVs and crossovers. In the first 11 months of the year the Mercedes-Benz passenger car brand has posted sales of 1,893,000 units. This compares to the figure of for the first 11 months of the year to 1,824,000 units for the first 11 months of the year and Audi's tally of 1,714,000 units. Mercedes-Benz's near-70,000 unit sales lead moving into the final sales month of the year is unassailable. Commenting on achieving the goal earlier in the week, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said, "We will achieve it this year, four years ahead of time". He was referring to the brand's 2020 target of becoming the world's biggest premium marque which was set back in 2011. Mercedes is also on track to meet its 10% return on sales target, so it has also achieved the key target of profitable growth. BMW and Audi will not rest on their laurels though; BMW is in the process of revitalising its core passenger car range with the launch of the new 5-Series, which will be followed in successive years by the new 1-Series and 3-Series. Audi will benefit next year from the first full year of Q2 sales, although it looks like other key recent launches such as the A4 may have slightly underwhelmed in terms of their initial sales impact. Later this week IHS Automotive will offer a full report on how we expect the volume premium market to perform between now and the end of the decade, including the impact of key new model launches and range additions.
About this article
The above article is from IHS Automotive Same-Day Analysis of automotive news, events and trends, and is a deliverable of the World Markets Automotive Service. The service averages thirty stories per day and also provides competitor and country intelligence. Get a free trial.
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